Method and apparatus for removing skin from animal parts

ABSTRACT

A method of mechanically removing skin from animal parts that have a bone part extending therein, including: moving the animal parts, suspended on shackles depending from an overhead conveyor, along a path of travel and cutting the part to separate the skin therefrom. The part moved into a skinning station in which the part is urged into engagement with skinning rolls. The skinning rolls are rotated and engage and draw the skin of the part therebetween. The skin is progressively pulled downwardly and away from underlying meat of the animal part as the part moved forwardly along its path of travel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Patent application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/984,996, filed Mar. 4, 2020.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/984,996, filed Mar. 4, 2020,is specifically incorporated by reference herein as set forth in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for removingskin from animal parts. The present disclosure also relates to removingskin from animal parts as an automated step as part of an animal partprocessing operation; and to an apparatus for performing the skinremoval step in combination with other steps of the animal partprocessing method.

BACKGROUND

Being able to automatically remove the skin from the animal parts is ofgreat importance to the food processing industry, given increasingpreferences by consumers for skinless meat products, especially skinlesspoultry products. Furthermore, as manually removing the skin from theanimal part generally is a tedious process, and due to today'sconvenience focused society, there is an increasing demand forpurchasing animal meat that is skinless and ready to cook.

Various methods and apparatuses have been developed for removing skinfrom animal parts. Typically, these methods and apparatuses haveinvolved feeding an animal part into a skin remover unit where a gripperroller grips the skin of the animal part and a knife blade separates theskin from the animal part, after which the gripper roller pulls thedetached skin away from the animal part. The detached skin may fall fromthe gripper roller, or be removed by the stripper roller. Such skinremoval units often have been a separate animal part processing station,with operators required to manually move and load the animal parts tothe location of the skin remover unit. Other systems for use as part ofan in-line process also have been developed, though there is still aneed for enhanced consistency in the skin removal process.

Accordingly, there remains a growing demand for methods and apparatusesthat incorporate the automatic skin removal step into food processinglines. The present disclosure is therefore directed to a method andapparatus for assisting in the substantially automated removal of skinfrom animal parts that addresses the foregoing and other related andunrelated problems in the existing art.

SUMMARY

Briefly described, the present disclosure is directed to methods and anapparatus for removing skin from animal parts that have a bone partextending therethrough. The methods and apparatus further generally areadapted for use as part of an automated animal part processing line orsystem, for example, providing an automated skinning station or unitmounted along a cut-up line for poultry.

In one aspect, the apparatus and methods of the present disclosure allowthe skin of an animal part to be removed as a step or operation along anautomated inline processing system/operation, wherein a series of animalparts are conveyed along an overhead conveyor system moving through anautomated processing machine or system, the parts suspended fromshackles or holders depending from a chain or other overhead conveyingmechanism. The overhead conveyor moves the animal parts suspended fromthe shackles along a given conveying path. While travelling along theconveying path, the animal part will encounter different processingstations/steps, including a processing step for removing the skin fromat least a portion of the animal part. Therefore, the apparatus andmethod(s) of the present disclosure lends itself to incorporating theskin removal step as part of an overall meat stripping and removaloperation.

Optionally, the bone part can comprise one or more elongate bonesextending through the animal part, such as a leg and thigh with boneportions extending therethrough. It will be appreciated that in view ofpoultry parts “leg” can refers to the drumstick or to the entire leg.Herein “leg” is used to refer to the drumstick and “whole leg” is usedto refer to the entire leg. Optionally, a knuckle can protrude from theleg and can provide a natural and convenient way of holding the animalpart from its shackle. Optionally, the animal part is an item ofpoultry, and still further optionally can include a poultry carcass orparts of poultry carcasses such as chicken, quail, turkey, duck, swan,and/or goose.

In one aspect of a method of removing skin from an animal part accordingto the present disclosure, a poultry carcass, or a part thereof such asa thigh and leg, can be suspended from a shackle or other carrier formovement along a path of travel through an automated cutting system orline. For example, as a series of legs and thighs are moved along thepath of travel, the thighs, drums and other portions can be separatedand stripped of meat. Including a skinning station according to theprinciples of the present disclosure in the meat processing operationfor separating meat from thigh bones, allows thigh meat to besubstantially fully processed with other portions of the carcass in asingle meat processing operation.

Optionally, the skin from the thigh is removed prior to separating thethigh meat from the thigh bones. Best results have been achieved byfirst removing the skin of the thigh and/or leg and then performingother steps necessary for separating the meat from the bone(s) of thethigh and/or leg.

Prior to moving into the skinning station, the legs and thighs can bemoved through an upstream cutting station wherein one or more cuttingblades will cut into the part; for example, cutting into the drum meatbetween the thigh and leg. The blades generally will cut through theskin and at least partially through the tissue connecting the skin andmeat adjacent the joint and down to the tendons between the leg andthigh bones.

Thereafter, the legs and thighs will be passed into the automatedskinning station or skinning unit. The skinning station or unit caninclude an upstream skinning assembly, optionally including a set offirst or upstream guide mechanisms.

The skinning unit can include a pair of skinning rolls. The pair ofskinning rolls is mounted with their longitudinal axes substantiallyparallel, forming a nip between the two skinning rolls. Preferably theskinning rolls rotate at the same speed in opposite directions. It willbe appreciated that other skinning units can be considered, such as aroll and knife skinning unit having a knife edge extending parallel to askinning roll.

In embodiments, the guide mechanisms can be resilient and/orcompressible. The guide mechanisms can include a primary guide wheel.The guide mechanism can further include a secondary guide wheel. One ofthe guide wheels, or both guide wheels, can be resilient and/orcompressible. Each of the guide wheels can, for example, be formed froma resilient and/or compressible material. The guide wheels also can bearranged and configured to engage and bias or urge the legs and thighstoward the skinning unit, e.g. the pair of skinning rolls. However,alternative guide mechanisms can be used, such as a conveyor beltarranged and configured to engage and bias or urge the legs and thighstoward the skinning unit.

It is also possible that at least one and/or each of the guide wheelshas a resilient outer circumferential portion, e.g. formed of sectionsresiliently compressible towards an axis of the wheel. It is alsopossible that at least one and/or each of the guide wheels has aresilient outer circumferential portion, e.g. formed of rigid sectionsresiliently movable towards an axis of the wheel. It is also possiblethat each guide wheel is resiliently suspended, such that the rotationalaxis of the guide wheel is biased towards the pair of skinning rolls.When the guide wheel is suspended resiliently, the guide wheel itselfcan be rigid. The guide wheels can have a series of recesses and/orcavities configured to enable compression of portions of the at leastone guide wheel as the portions of the at least one guide wheel arerotated against the animal parts. A circumferential pitch of therecesses and/or cavities matches a pitch of animal parts on theconveyor.

Optionally, in use, the skinning unit will be arranged at a distancefrom the overhead conveyor such that the thigh generally is firstengaged by a perimeter of the primary guide wheel. The skinning unit canbe arranged horizontally spaced from a path of conveyance followed bythe animal parts suspended from the overhead conveyor. The primary guidewheel will be rotated with the forward movement of the legs and thighsas they are conveyed along their path of travel, and will bear againstthe thighs, directing the thighs toward and against the rotatingskinning rolls. The primary guide wheel further can be compressible,resilient or resistant to an extent such that the thighs are pressedagainst the skinning rolls sufficient to enable a gripping engagement ofthe skin of the thighs by the skinning rolls, e.g. by teeth of theskinning rolls, for instance at an area adjacent the cut between the legand thigh, but without the meat being engaged and pulled between theskinning rolls, e.g. the teeth thereof.

In one aspect, the skinning rolls can include a pair of elongated rollseach having helical teeth formed therealong. The helical teeth extend ata helix angle, i.e. the angle between the helix and a line on thesurface of the roll parallel to the longitudinal axis. The helix of oneof the skinning rolls can be wound in the opposite direction relative tothe other of the skinning rolls. The helix angle of the one skinningroll can be of equal magnitude and opposite sine to the helix angle ofthe other skinning roll. The skinning rolls further can extend at anangle, downwardly and away from the overhead conveyor and the legs andthighs moving therealong.

Each of the skinning rolls also will be rotated, generally at a rateapproximately matched to the rate of movement of the thighs by theoverhead conveyor. As the thighs are directed toward and against theskinning rolls by the primary guide wheel, the skin along the thighswill be engaged and pulled between the helical teeth of the skinningrolls as the skinning rolls are rotated. The secondary guide wheel willbe located downstream from the primary guide wheel and can help furtherguide the thighs along the skinning rolls and maintain the engagement ofthe skin of the thighs with the skinning rolls.

As the parts continue to be carried forwardly along their path of travelby the shackles of the overhead conveyor, the skin of the thighs will bepulled along the downwardly sloping skinning rolls, which exerts adownward or substantially vertically directed pulling force on the skinof the thighs. Such coordinated motion whereby the legs and thighscontinue their forward movement/travel while the skin of the thighs isboth pulled downwardly and forwardly, as well as away from the thigh ina horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of thethighs, in concert with the forward movement of the thighs, enables theskin to be removed in a substantially straight downwardly and away fromthe thighs directed motion. As a result, a substantially consistent andmore complete removal of the skin can be provided.

The downward angle of the skinning rolls and their rotational speed canbe chosen in relation to a conveying speed of the overhead conveyor,such that the thighs are enabled to continue their movement along theirconveying path without being substantially pulled rearwardly and/orwithout a substantial drag being exerted thereon, such that the skin canbe pulled in a substantially straight motion or operation, downwardlyand away from the thigh portions thereof.

Terms such as “substantially no drag” and “substantially straightdownward motion” as used herein at least include a force vector of forceexerted by the skinning rolls onto the thigh, relative to the movingthigh, which force vector generally being composed of a horizontal forcecomponent in the direction of movement of the thigh and a vertical forcecomponent, is vertical within 15 degrees, preferably within 10 degrees.It will be appreciated that some minor experimentation can yield asuitable rotational speed for a given downward angle and/or helix angle.

Alternatively, or additionally, the downward angle of the skinningrolls, i.e. the angle, α, between the longitudinal axis of the skinningrolls and horizontal, can be substantially equal to the helix angle, β,of at least one of the skinning rolls, i.e. the angle between the helixand a line on the surface of the roll parallel to the longitudinal axis.Preferably the helix angle of at least the upper skinning roll, β_(u),and the downward angle, α, are substantially equal, such as equal within15 degrees, and preferably within 5 degrees, of being equal. Preferablythe helix angle, β_(u), of the upper skinning roll is such that thehelix is substantially horizontal, such as horizontal within 15 degrees,and preferably within 5 degrees, of horizontal, at the side of theskinning roll facing the thigh and/or leg. Hence, the helical teeth ofthe upper skinning roll can impart a substantially downward force ontothe skin of the thigh and/or leg, while at the same time allowing theskin to slide along the helix in forward direction. The helical teeth ofthe lower skinning roll can be wound in the opposite direction relativeto the upper skinning roll. The helix angle, β_(l), of the lowerskinning roll can be of equal magnitude and opposite sine to the helixangle, β_(u), of the upper skinning roll.

A surface velocity of the skinning rolls due to rotation is preferablyequal to or higher than the conveying speed of the overhead conveyor.Hence, the skinning rolls effectively carry the skin into the nipbetween the skinning rolls while the thigh and/or leg moves past theskinning rolls. In some embodiments the surface velocity of the skinningrolls can be substantially equal to, e.g. within, 25%, and preferablywithin 10%, of the conveying speed divided by the sine of angle α. Inthis way the helical teeth of the lower skinning roll can impart aforward speed to the thigh and/or leg that is substantially equal to theconveying speed.

In addition or optionally, a secondary or downstream skinning assembly,which similarly can include a set of guide wheels and skinning rolls,also can be provided. The downstream set of guide wheels and skinningrolls can have a similar construction to the upstream guide wheels andskinning rolls, and can be arranged in a substantially mirror oropposite alignment along the path of travel of the legs and thighs,being oriented to engage and strip skin from along opposite side/facinglegs and thighs that may not be engaged by the upstream guide wheels andskinning rolls, i.e., the downstream skinning assembly can be orientedto engage left hand/side legs and/or thighs, while the upstream skinningassembly will be oriented to engage right hand/side legs and/or thighs.The guide wheels and skinning rolls of the downstream skinning assemblyalso can help ensure substantially complete removal of the skin from thethighs.

Optionally, the skinning unit or station can be adjustably mounted alongthe automated processing line or system and can accommodate a variety ofdifferent size legs and thighs or carcasses. For example, since achicken thigh is smaller than a turkey thigh, it is desirable that theentire skin remover unit may be adjusted relative to the overheadconveyor and the shackle to accommodate for the processing of differenttypes of animals and/or different types of animal parts. In anotheraspect, the skinning unit or station can be used to remove skin from thethighs or legs or from both the legs and thighs together, i.e. from thewhole legs.

Furthermore, it will be understood that the processing line or apparatusis modular, and may include different processing stations for performingdifferent method steps. Optionally, the shackle can rotatably dependfrom the overhead conveyor, and in some method steps it may be desirablethat the thigh or other animal part be rotated by its shackle so as tobe substantially coextensive with a longitudinal extend of the bone ofthe animal part.

Optionally, the automated processing system or line further can compriseat least a hanger station, a first tissue cutting station, and a meatstripper station. As mentioned above, the processing system generally ismodular and lends itself well to the incorporation of additionalprocessing stations for carrying out additional processing steps.Optionally, the skinning unit can be arranged in various positions orlocations, such as after the first tissue cutting station, and beforethe meat stripper station for removal of the skin prior to stripping themeat from the thigh and/or leg.

Although the method and the apparatus for performing the methodaccording to the present disclosure may be discussed in differentsections and/or steps, it will be appreciated that the above descriptionand features of the method according to the present disclosure are alsoapplicable to the apparatus according to the present disclosure, andthat the above description and features of the apparatus according tothe present disclosure are also applicable to embodiments of the methodaccording to the present disclosure.

In one aspect, a method of mechanically removing skin from animal partsthat have a bone part extending therein, comprising moving the animalparts along a path of travel suspended from a conveyor; engaging eachanimal part with a first guide wheel; biasing the animal parts toward aseries of skinning rolls; entrapping a portion of skin of the animalpart between the skinning rolls; and as the animal parts continuemovement along their path of travel, pulling the skin downwardly and ata rate and at an angle sufficient to pull the skin in a substantiallystraight downward motion and away from underlying meat of the animalpart.

Biasing the animal parts toward a series of skinning rolls can compriserotating a guide wheel into engagement with the animal parts, the guidewheel comprising a resilient material and having a series of cavitiesconfigured to enable compression of portions of the guide wheel as thefirst guide wheel is rotated against the animal parts.

The skinning rolls can extend at an angle downwardly with respect to thepath of travel of the animal parts and exert a downward force to pullthe skin away from the meat.

In further aspects, an apparatus is disclosed, comprising a conveyormoving the animal parts along a predefined path of travel; at least onecutting station arranged along the path of travel of the animal parts;and a skinning unit arranged along the path of travel and including atleast one guide configured to, in use, bias the animal parts toward aseries of skinning rolls, the at least one guide being compressible soas to urge the animal parts against the skinning rolls so as to cause aportion of skin of the animal parts to be pulled between a gap of theskinning rolls and away from meat of the animal parts, without pressingthe meat itself into engagement with the skinning rolls.

The conveyor can comprise an overhead conveyor, and a series of shacklesrotatably depending from the overhead conveyor and carrying the animalparts. The skinning unit can be positioned after the at least onecutting station, and before a meat stripper station.

The at least one guide wheel is rotatable into engagement with theanimal parts. The at least one guide wheel can be formed from aresilient, compressible material and having a series of cavitiesconfigured to enable compression of portions of the at least one guidewheel as the compression portions of the at least one guide wheel arerotated against the animal parts.

The skinning rolls can comprise elongated rolls each having helicallyextending teeth, and wherein the skinning rolls are oriented at adownwardly sloping angle with respect to the path of travel of theanimal parts. Still further, the skinning rolls can be rotatable inopposite directions and at a rate that substantially matches a rate ofmovement of the animal parts moving along the overhead conveyor tofacilitate a substantially straight, downward pulling of the skin awayfrom the meat of the animal parts.

It will also be clear that the skinning unit having the described angledskinning rollers can be used with or without the guide mechanism. Itwill also be clear that the skinning unit having the described guidemechanism can be used with angled skinning rollers or horizontalskinning rollers.

The aspects as covered by the appended claims as well as other aspects,features and advantages of the present disclosure will be explained infurther detail in the description below in reference to the accompanyingdrawings briefly described below. It further will be appreciated thatany of the aspects, features and options described with respect to themethods apply equally to the apparatus of the present disclosure, andvice versa. It will also be clear that any one or more of the aspects,features and/or options discussed herein can be combined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, dimensions of some of the elements may beexaggerated relative to other elements. Examples incorporating theteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings and are provided by way of non-limiting illustration. Itis noted that the figures are on the schematic representations ofexamples of the present disclosure, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an automated processing line,system or machine for harvesting meat from animal parts or carcasses.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a skinning station or skinning unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the skinning unit of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a further perspective view illustrating a pair of skinningrolls of the skinning unit of FIGS. 2-3.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the skinning unit of FIGS. 2-4.

FIG. 6A is a schematic illustration of the skinning unit of FIGS. 2-5.

FIG. 6B is a plan view schematically illustrating the skinning unit ofFIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a secondary guide wheel for use in a skinningunit.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic illustrations showing an example of amethod of skinning an animal part conveyed through the skinning unit orstation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus and methods ofremoving the skin from animal parts as part of an automated processingline, machine or system 1 (FIGS. 1-5) along which the animal parts P(FIG. 2) can be segmented and the skin and meat thereof removed. Forpurposes of illustration, the present disclosure is shown in an examplefor removing the skins from poultry thighs and/or legs of poultrycarcasses, such as chickens, turkeys, geese and other types of poultry.However, it will be understood that while the removal of the skin S frompoultry thighs is illustrated and discussed herein, other types ofanimal parts, such as legs or whole legs, also can be skinned/processedusing the methods and apparatus according to the principles of thepresent disclosure.

An example of a machine 1 for harvesting surrounding meat from poultryparts such as articulated first and second poultry bones (e.g. thighsand legs) in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1.The machine 1 in FIG. 1 is shown from a front side 1A, with a first orright hand part, side or portion, indicated by 2, including a loadingsection or station 3, and a second, left hand part, side or portionindicated by 4, which can include various processing stations, such as,by way of non-limiting example, a shackle level resetting station 5 andan X-ray bone detection unit 7. The machine 1 also can include a seriesof stations along a rear side 1B thereof, including a cutter station orunit 9, for example, a J-cutter station, and a meat stripper station 10.It will be understood that the machine 1 may have fewer or moreprocessing stations, and, while various processing or cutting stationshave been disclosed, different combinations of processing stations,including a series of different processing stations, also can beprovided.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, The machine 1 generally will include aframe 11 that supports the various operative stations or units at apredetermined height above ground level. The loading section 3 (FIG. 1)will present a succession of poultry leg suspension shackles 13, whichare suspended from an overhead conveyor line 14 and are conveyed along apath of travel in a conveying direction 15. In this example, theshackles 13 are conveyed to/past one or more workers (not shown) who canhang parts such as poultry legs and thighs into the individual shackles13, with each part suspended by a protruding knuckle of its leg(s).

It is possible that the machine 1 can be arranged for processing eitherleft-hand or right-hand legs and/or thighs. It is also possible that themachine is arranged for both left-hand and right-hand legs and/orthighs. In the latter case, the cutter station 9 can include cutterunits for left-hand legs and/or thighs and cutter units for right-handlegs and/or thighs. The cutter station 9 can e.g. include alternatelycutter units for left-hand legs and/or thighs and cutter units forright-hand legs and/or thighs.

As the parts enter and pass though the cutter station, cutting bladeswill cut into each of the parts adjacent a joint between the leg andthigh bones. The cutting blades will cut through the skin and meatbetween the thigh and drum (leg) and down to the tendons holding thebones together, generally cutting to a depth sufficient to separate ordetach the meat and skin from around the knee joint between the bones,while leaving the tendons substantially intact for holding the bonestogether. Thereafter, the parts will be conveyed into the skinningstation or unit 20, which generally is arranged upstream from subsequentprocessing or meat stripping stations or units 10 (FIG. 1) that canremove the thigh meat and/or drum meat from the bones of the parts.

FIGS. 2-6B illustrate embodiments and aspects of a skinning station orunit 20 according to the principles of the present disclosure. Asgenerally illustrated in FIG. 2, the skinning unit 20 generally caninclude an adjustable frame 21 that is mountable to the frame of theautomated processing line or machine 1. In this example, the skinningunit 20 is configured to enable varying size parts P to be received andskinned without requiring substantial adjustments or repositioning ofthe unit to accommodate differing size parts. However, the location orpositioning of the skinning unit 20 with respect to the overheadshackles 13, and thus the parts being conveyed along the path of travel15, can be adjusted as needed so as to locate and/or orient the skinningunit in substantial alignment with the path of travel of the parts beingconveyed by the overhead shackles. For example, turkey legs and thighsare generally larger than chicken legs and thighs, and the skinning unitcan be adjusted to accommodate such larger variations in sizes.

In this example, the skinning unit 20 includes a first or upstreamskinning assembly 22, and a second or downstream skinning assembly 23.In this example, each of the skinning assemblies 22 and 23 havesubstantially the same/similar constructions, but are oriented and/orarranged in opposing, substantially mirrored arrangements, located alongopposite sides of the path of travel 15 of the parts.

As indicated in FIG. 2, the skinning assemblies each include guidemechanisms 24, which, here include a series of guide wheels 25 and 26.The first or leading guide wheel 25 generally can comprise an initial orprimary guide wheel, while the second guide wheel 26 will comprise asecondary guide wheel. In this example each of the guide wheels isresilient. Here, each of the guide wheels generally will be formed froma resilient, compressible material. Each guide wheel can be mounted on adriveshaft 27 and will be rotatable into engagement with the partsmoving through the skinning unit. In this example the guide wheels 25,26 are formed from a food grade material such as a rubber, synthetic,plastic or other food grade material having a desired resiliency and/orcompressibility.

In the example of FIG. 2, the primary guide wheel 25 is driven orrotated, such as by a drive motor 28, in the direction of arrow 29 intobearing engagement with the parts P, as indicated in FIGS. 8A-8B. Therotation of the primary guide wheel is driven at a rate thatsubstantially matches the rate of movement of the parts along their pathof travel 15 by the overhead conveyor, i.e. the surface speed of aperimeter of the primary guide wheel matches a speed of movement of theparts along their path of travel. As further indicated in FIGS. 2-4, thesecondary guide wheel 26 will be arranged downstream and located at anelevation spaced below the primary guide wheel, and can be driven, orcan be allowed to rotate freely with the movement of the thigh portionsof the parts in engagement therewith.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 6A, 6B and 8A the primary guide wheel 25 caninclude a center hub portion 30 with a circumferential portion 31arranged thereabout. The circumferential portion 31 further can beformed with a series of alternating shaped cavities and/or recesses32/33. The circumferential portion 31 further can be formed with aseries of spaced teeth 34 arranged about the outer periphery 35 thereof.Recesses 36 can be defined between the teeth 34.

As further indicated in FIG. 8A, the alternating cavities and/orrecesses 32 and 33 formed about the primary guide wheel 25 generallywill be provided with differing configurations. In this example, thefirst recesses or cavities 32 are shown with a substantially trapezoidalshape, with an elongated arcuate outer portion 37 extending parallel tothe outer periphery 35 of the primary guide wheel, and a pair of sidewalls 38 that taper inwardly to an arcuate inner portion 39. The secondrecesses or cavities 33 are arranged between the sloping side walls oflarger, first cavities, and generally are formed with a substantiallycooperative shape configured to enable the side walls of the firstcavities to flex, e.g. outwardly in the direction of arrows 41 and 41′,as associated engaging positions 42 defined about the periphery of theprimary guide wheel engage and bear against the parts P. Other shapes ofthe recesses or cavities 32/33 also can be provided.

As further indicated in FIG. 8A, as the primary guide wheel 25 isrotated in the direction of arrow 29 into engagement with the parts Pbeing moved along their conveying path 15, the teeth of the primaryguide wheel along/at one of the engaging positions 42A defined about theperiphery of the primary guide wheel, engage and direct/urge the thighstoward skinning rolls 45 and 46. As part of this engagement, the outerperiphery 35 of the primary guide wheel is compressed. Here, the outerarcuate portions 37 of the cavities 32 corresponding to such engagingpositions will be compressed inwardly, in the direction of arrow 43,while the side walls 38 thereof are urged outwardly in the direction ofarrows 41 and 41′. The compressibility of the cavities and resiliency ofthe material of the primary guide wheel thus enables the parts to beurged into bearing engagement against a pair of skinning rolls 45 and 46sufficient to enable the skinning rolls to affirmatively grab and pullthe skins from the parts, but with the parts being sufficientlycushioned to prevent the meat of the parts from also being engaged andpulled between the skinning rolls.

The primary guide wheel 25 can be formed from one or more stacked disks,and/or can be about 1-2 inches (25.4-50.8 mm) thick, though suchthickness can be varied to accommodate various size parts. The primaryguide wheel further can have a diameter of approximately 14″ (355.6 mm)or other diameter as selected to accommodate a variety of different sizeparts, with 8 of the larger, first or main cavities or recesses 32defined about the circumferential portion thereof, providing about 8engagement positions 42, each with an approximately 6″ (152.4 mm) outerarcuate engagement area. Greater or fewer engagement positions 42 alsocan be provided, with the number of positions selected to match a pitchor speed of the parts being conveyed along their conveying path 15. Therotation of the primary guide wheel further will be selected so as tosubstantially match the movement of the parts along their conveyingpath.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the secondary guide wheel 26 generally canhave a smaller diameter than the primary guide wheel 25, for examplehaving a diameter of between about 10″-11″ (254-279.4 mm), with a hub 51surrounded by a circumferential portion 52 and a periphery 53 includinga series of teeth 54 with recesses 56 therebetween. A series ofalternating shape/size recesses and/or cavities 57/58 further will beprovided in the circumferential portion 52. The first recesses orcavities 57 can have a generally trapezoidal or triangularconfiguration, each with an outer arcuate portion 61 defining anengagement position 62 along which the thighs will be engaged, andhaving inwardly tapering side walls 63 that angle toward an innerarcuate portion 64. The secondary guide wheel also can include a similarnumber of engaging positions to the primary guide wheel, depending onthe rate of movement of the parts through the skinning station or unit.

As indicated in FIGS. 2-6B and 8A-8B, the secondary guide wheel 26generally will be mounted slightly downstream and at an elevation belowthe primary guide wheel 25, and can be located/positioned along anintermediate portion of the skinning rolls. The secondary guide wheel 26further can be approximately 1″ (25.4 mm) thick and formed from asimilar compressible/resilient material as the primary guide wheel.

The secondary guide wheel can be allowed to freely rotate, or can bedriven, and can serve as an additional bearing mechanism to ensure thatthe thigh portions of the poultry parts are maintained in engagementwith the skinning rolls as the legs and thighs are continued to beconveyed along their conveying path 15 by the overhead shackles. Thecompressible material and configuration of the cavities of the secondaryguide wheel enables the secondary guide wheel to flex and compress atthe engagement positions 62 in contact with the thighs to help ensurethat the skin is affirmatively engaged and substantially removed fromthe thigh meat without the meat also being pulled into the skinningrolls.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6A-8B, the skinning rolls 45/46 generallyare arranged adjacent the first and second guide wheels. The skinningrolls in this example comprise elongated toothed rolls, generally beingformed from steel or similar material and having helical teeth 47 formedalong their length. As can e.g. be seen in FIG. 4 the helical teeth 47of the upper skinning roll 45 have a helix angle β_(u), and the helicalteeth 47 of the lower skinning roll 46 have a helix angle β_(l). Here,the helical teeth of the lower skinning roll 46 are wound in theopposite direction relative to the helical teeth of the upper skinningroll 45. The helix angle β_(l) of the lower skinning roll 46 is of equalmagnitude and opposite sine to the helix angle β_(u) of the upperskinning roll 45.

The skinning rolls 45/46 further generally will be oriented at an angleextending downwardly and away from the conveying path of the parts, suchas indicated in FIGS. 2 and 8B, extending from an upstream end adjacentand at approximately a similar elevation as the primary guide wheel 25downwardly at an angle and for a distance generally selected tosubstantially remove the skin S from the thigh portions T of the partsP. The downward angle of the skinning rolls 45/46 is indicated as angleα in FIG. 4. For example, the skinning rolls 45/46 can extend downwardlyat an angle α of between approximately 15° to 20° and in someembodiments between approximately 17° to 19°; although the angle andlength of the skinning rolls can vary depending up on the parts beingskinned. As can e.g. be seen in FIG. 4 the downward angle α of theskinning rolls 45/46 can be substantially equal to the helix angleβ_(u), of the upper skinning roll, such that the helical teeth aresubstantially horizontal, such as horizontal within about 15 degrees,and preferably within 5 degrees of horizontal, at the side of theskinning roll facing the thigh and/or leg.

In this example, the skinning rolls are mounted in a substantiallyparallel, vertically stacked arrangement in a frame or holder and willeach be rotated by a drive motor 48. The skinning rolls also can berotated in opposite directions so that their helical teeth 47 willrotate towards each other. Such opposed rotation will help grip and pullthe skin of the thigh portions into the nip or engagement area 49defined therebetween in a substantially consistent pulling motion.

As indicated in FIG. 8B, as the parts enter the skinning station, thethighs T thereof generally will pass between the primary wheel 25 andthe upstream or proximal end of the skinning rolls 45/46. The primaryguide wheel will urge the thighs against the skinning rolls, asgenerally illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The rotation of the skinningrolls will enable the helical teeth 47 thereof to affirmatively grip andpull the skin of the thigh portions of each of the parts into the nip ormeshed engagement area 49 between the teeth of the skinning rolls.

The skinning rolls further will be driven at approximately an equivalentspeed to the speed of movement of the parts along their conveying pathas they are carried by the overhead shackles 13. The rotation of theskinning rolls and downward slope or angled orientation applies agenerally vertically directed pulling force to the skin. The skinningrolls also apply a pulling force to the skin in a generally horizontaldirection perpendicular to the conveying direction, away from the thigh.As a result, the parts are enabled to continue their movement alongtheir conveying path without being substantially pulled rearwardly or asubstantial drag being exerted thereon, such that the skin can be pulledin a substantially straight motion or operation, downwardly and awayfrom the thigh portions thereof.

With the skin being pulled/removed in a downward, generally straightmotion as the parts continue their movement along their conveying path,the skin can be more substantially removed, including being pulled awayfrom the fatty portions along the rear portions of the thighs, whileallowing such fatty portions (which are desirable for cooking of thethighs) to remain with at least a portion of the thigh as the thigh meatis stripped from the thigh bone in downstream processing stations. Theskin is enabled to drop below the skinning unit and can be guided into acollection bin or other receptacle such as by slides or other rampsbelow the skinning rolls.

As indicated in FIGS. 3-4, optionally, a further guide 70 can beprovided adjacent the downstream section or end of the skinning rolls.The downstream guide can include a guide bar or rail that extends froman upstream location 71 adjacent the secondary guide wheel to the distalend 72 of the skinning rolls 45/46. The guide rail 51 generally can beconfigured and arranged so as to help direct and maintain the skin beingremoved from the thighs between the skinning rolls to help furtherensure a substantially complete and clean removal of the skin from thethigh portions.

As noted above and as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6A-6B, the skinningunit 20 further can include a downstream or secondary skinning assembly23, which similarly can include a set of guide wheels and skinningrolls. The downstream or secondary skinning assembly 23 can, however, beoptional.

In addition, as indicated in FIGS. 6A-6B, the guide wheels and skinningrolls of the secondary skinning assembly 23 can be arranged so as toengage opposite facing parts, for example, left hand thighs and/or legs,as needed. Generally, the guide wheels 25/26 and skinning rolls 45/46 ofthe upstream skinning assembly 22 will be able to accommodate both leftand right hand leg and thigh parts. However, in some instances, whereleft hand or right hand parts may not be engaged by the guide wheels andskinning rolls of the upstream skinning assembly 22, the guide wheelsand skinning rolls of the downstream skinning assembly 23 will engageand help ensure removal of the skin therefrom.

As further noted above, the construction of the guide wheels andskinning rolls of the secondary or downstream skinning station generallycan be the same as the set of guide wheels and skinning rolls of thefirst or upstream skinning station, but can be arranged in mirror oropposite arrangement with respect to the path of travel of the parts tohelp ensure substantially complete skin removal from the parts.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that while the presentdisclosure illustrates the removal of skin from the thigh portions of aconnected leg and thigh part of poultry, it also would be possible toutilize the skinning unit or station of the present disclosure for theremoval of skin from a complete or whole leg portion of animal partssuch as poultry.

In addition, after the skin has been removed from the part such as thethigh portion of the poultry part, the part will continue its movementalong its conveying path into a downstream stripping station 10 (FIG. 1)at which the thigh meat can be stripped from the thigh bone andthereafter the thigh bone can be separated from the drum or leg, whichfurther can be subsequently processed as needed or desired in later ordownstream stations.

It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the apparatusand method of removing skin from animal parts according to theprinciples of the present disclosure will be apparent from the foregoingdescription. To the skilled person in this field of the art it will beclear that the present disclosure is not limited to any particularembodiment as may be represented and described herein, but rather,within the framework of the appended claims, a large number of variantsare possible. Also kinematic inversions are considered inherentlydisclosed and to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Theterms comprising and including when used in this description or theappended claims should not be construed in an exclusive or exhaustivesense but rather in an inclusive sense. Expressions such as: “means for. . . ” should be read as: “configured for . . . ” or “constructed to .. . ” and should be construed to include equivalents for the structuresdisclosed. The use of expressions like: “preferred”, “especiallypreferred” etc. likewise is not intended to limit the presentdisclosure. Features which are not specifically or explicitly describedor claimed may be additionally included in the structure and methodsdisclosed according to the principles of the present disclosure withoutdeviating from its scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of mechanically removing skin fromanimal parts that have a bone part extending therein, comprising: movingthe animal parts along a path of travel suspended from a conveyor;engaging each animal part with a series of skinning rolls; entrapping aportion of skin of the animal part between the skinning rolls; and asthe animal parts continue movement along their path of travel, pullingthe skin downwardly and at a rate and at an angle sufficient to pull theskin in a substantially straight downward motion and away fromunderlying meat of the animal part.
 2. The method according to claim 1,comprising engaging each animal part with a first guide wheel biasingthe animal part towards the series of skinning rolls.
 3. A method ofmechanically removing skin from animal parts that have a bone partextending therein, comprising: moving the animal parts along a path oftravel suspended from a conveyor; engaging each animal part with a firstguide wheel; biasing the animal parts toward a series of skinning rolls;entrapping a portion of skin of the animal part between the skinningrolls; and as the animal parts continue movement along their path oftravel, pulling the skin away from underlying meat of the animal part.4. The method of claim 3, comprising as the animal parts continuemovement along their path of travel, pulling the skin downwardly and ata rate and at an angle sufficient to pull the skin in a substantiallystraight downward motion and away from underlying meat of the animalpart.
 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the bone part is anelongate bone part extending through the animal part and has a boneportion protruding outwardly from the animal part.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 3, wherein biasing the animal parts toward a seriesof skinning rolls comprises rotating a guide wheel into engagement withthe animal parts.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the guidewheel comprises a resilient material and has a series of cavitiesconfigured to enable compression of portions of the guide wheel as thefirst guide wheel is rotated against the animal parts.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 3 wherein the skinning rolls extend at an angledownwardly with respect to the path of travel of the animal parts andexert a downward force to pull the skin away from the meat.
 9. Themethod according to claim 3, wherein the conveyor is an overheadconveyor including shackles depending from the overhead conveyor and onwhich the animal parts are received.
 10. The method according to claim3, wherein the method is part of a meat processing operation.
 11. Themethod according to claim 10, wherein the meat processing operation isone for separating meat from thigh bones.
 12. The method according toclaim 11, wherein the skin from thigh is removed prior to separating themeat from the thigh bone extending therein.
 13. The method according toclaim 3, wherein the animal part is an item of poultry.
 14. An apparatusfor processing animal parts, comprising: a conveyor moving the animalparts along a predefined path of travel; and a skinning unit arrangedalong the path of travel and including at least one guide configured to,in use, bias the animal parts toward a series of skinning rolls, the atleast one guide being resilient and/or compressible so as to urge theanimal parts against the skinning rolls so as to cause a portion of skinof the animal parts to be pulled between a gap of the skinning rolls andaway from meat of the animal parts, without pressing the meat intoengagement with the skinning rolls.
 15. The apparatus according to claim14, wherein the skinning rolls comprise elongated rolls each havingextending teeth, and wherein the skinning rolls are oriented at adownwardly sloping angle with respect to the path of travel of theanimal parts.
 16. An apparatus for processing animal parts, comprising:a conveyor moving the animal parts along a predefined path of travel;and a skinning unit arranged along the path of travel and including aseries of skinning rolls, wherein the skinning rolls comprise elongatedrolls each having extending teeth, and wherein the skinning rolls areoriented at a downwardly sloping angle with respect to the path oftravel of the animal parts.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 16,including at least one guide configured to, in use, bias the animalparts toward the series of skinning rolls, the at least one guide beingresilient and/or compressible so as to urge the animal parts against theskinning rolls so as to cause a portion of skin of the animal parts tobe pulled between a gap of the skinning rolls and away from meat of theanimal parts, without pressing the meat into engagement with theskinning rolls.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the atleast one guide comprises at least one guide wheel rotatable intoengagement with the animal parts.
 19. The apparatus according to claim18, wherein the at least one guide wheel has a resilient and/orcompressible outer circumferential portion.
 20. The apparatus accordingto claim 18, wherein the at least one guide wheel is formed from aresilient and/or compressible material.
 21. The apparatus according toclaim 18, wherein the at least one guide wheel has a series of recessesand/or cavities configured to enable compression of portions of the atleast one guide wheel as the portions of the at least one guide wheelare rotated against the animal parts.
 22. The apparatus according toclaim 21, wherein a circumferential pitch of the recesses and/orcavities matches a pitch of animal parts on the conveyor.
 23. Theapparatus according to claim 16, wherein the skinning rolls are rotatedin opposite directions and at a rate that substantially matches a rateof movement of the animal parts moving along the overhead conveyor tofacilitate a substantially straight, downward pulling of the skin awayfrom the meat of the animal parts.
 24. The apparatus according to any ofclaim 16, including at least one cutting station arranged along the pathof travel of the animal parts;
 25. The apparatus according to any ofclaim 16, wherein the conveyor comprises an overhead conveyor, and aseries of shackles rotatably depending from the overhead conveyor andcarrying the animal parts.
 26. The apparatus according to any of claim16, wherein the skinning unit is adjustably mounted to a machine framevia an arm.
 27. The apparatus according to any of claim 16, furthercomprising an animal part loading station and a meat stripper station.28. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the skinning unit ispositioned after at least one cutting station, and before a meatstripper station.